Ukrainian teenager killed in Dublin attack, two people injured

A 17-year-old Ukrainian boy has died after being attacked in the Irish capital, Dublin. Police have detained another teenage boy, a foreign national, who is considered the main suspect.

Source: The Irish Times, an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper; Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland

Details: Another 17-year-old Ukrainian boy and a woman, believed to be a member of staff at the residential facility where the incident occurred, were injured in the attack.

The attack took place shortly after 11:00 on 15 October at a residential unit in Dublin that provides emergency accommodation for people seeking international protection. Access to the building was reported to be restricted to residents only.

Police officers found the victim seriously wounded at the scene. Despite efforts by paramedics to save him, the boy died from his injuries.

Quote from a female resident of the Grattan Wood apartment complex: "I came home to chaos. There were people running around everywhere, some of them covered in blood. The guards were asking them if they were injured. The first thing I saw was the emergency response unit running into the apartments and then chaos.

One of the women, she looked like a care worker, had blood on her hand and she didn't realise she was stabbed until she washed her hands."

More details: Unnamed sources told The Irish Times the teenager had sustained multiple injuries to his head, arms and upper body. Police believe the attacker used a knife or bladed weapon.

Another 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital with a stab wound that was not life-threatening. A woman believed to be a care worker was also injured.

Investigators believe the injured boy and the deceased teenager knew each other. The main suspect, a 17-year-old foreign national, was detained at the scene.

Irish officials, including Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Children Norma Foley, Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris, have expressed their condolences.

Quote from Harris: "This is a truly shocking event and my thoughts are with all those impacted by it, in particular the bereaved family and those injured.

The loss of life is unconscionable and the focus now must be on the welfare and safety of the young people and staff at the facility.

"Tusla [the Irish Child and Family Agency – ed.] has said that additional supports will be provided to everyone directly affected. I ask that An Garda Síochána [the Irish police] be given the time and space to conduct an investigation."

More details: The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland has expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, who has been named as Vadym Davydenko. It also noted that the teenager's body will be repatriated to Ukraine.

Quote: "The embassy is in close contact with the Irish police (An Garda Síochána), which is investigating the circumstances of the tragedy. We are also in touch with the family of the deceased. According to the Garda, the investigation is ongoing. They will keep Vadym's family and the embassy informed."

Background: In late August, Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman who had recently fled to the United States from the war in Ukraine, was killed in a knife attack by a homeless man at a train station in North Carolina. The suspected killer faces federal charges in addition to state-level charges. Both sets of charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.

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